Table Redo

I've been a gal without a nightstand (do people still call them that?) for quite some time. So when I spied this sweet little piece - I knew it was just what I needed to put next to my bed.

I don't know if I should even share with you what I've been using for - well, what seems like forever.  But here goes:  I've been using my little garbage can with a nice, flat, wicker basket (you know the kind that is often used in the garden to collect flowers?) laying on top of it. Sure, it's worked ok - but certainly wasn't what I wanted there forever. And in the meantime, I just hadn't found just what I wanted...until now.

Anyway......it came with some rough spots on the top - but other than that - really a nice little piece.

The weekend before last, I set up my living room/painting studio. (My son's girlfriend laughs at me and says she's never seen anyone paint furniture in their living room before.)  :-)

I was extra lazy that day - and didn't even bother looking further than my kitchen cupboard for something to put under the table legs while painting.  Uffdah. Yes, those ARE tuna cans that you see under there. (Hey - there's a first time for everything!)

I dug out my increasingly favorite white paint can and got to work. I was able to pull it back together by the next day and get it's original hardware back on (the best step in the process!). I was pleased with the end result. 

I'm once again a gal with a nightstand.

Button Update

Awhile back, I shared with you how I made buttons from bottle caps.

I recently "pounded and painted" a few more caps. I thoughts I should snazzy these up a bit add some embellishments. So I used a variety of rub-on designs that have been sitting unused and ignored in one of my many drawers of creative supplies.

After applying the rub-on's, I then sprayed on two poly-spray protective coats.

Shizamm...more buttons!

The buttons shown below are ones that I made quite some time ago using polymer clay and the same type of rub-on designs.  I wonder when I'll ever get around to using them!

The Difference a Day Makes

Sure - I tell you at the beginning of the week not to expect any posts from me this week - and here I am getting another post out there.

But I really wanted to get this one posted this week. So let's start by saying that we have had a weird April-weather week.

Photo ONE:  Tuesday morning. Lovely, fresh, encouraging.

Photo TWO: Wednesday morning (for real!). Cold, fragile, needing shelter.

I realized after taking these photos, that my days can often be like this as well. One day I might be feeling good - like I can do most anything - like I can overcome most obstacles. And the next day I may feel like I want to hide - like I'm defeated - like I can barely breathe because I'm buried too deep.

Even though I can't control Mother Nature, I'm wondering if I can control my emotional weather in a more balanced way.

Happy Birthday Dad

Today would have been my dad's birthday. He passed over in 2007 and is missed every day.

He was an incredibly kind-hearted man who was quiet yet everyone's friend. His immense love and dedication to my mom and his family was to be cherished and admired. He was indeeed loved by many. I miss you mom and dad.

Mom and Dad's wedding photo - 1957.

My Friend

Sorry I've been absent for a few days. My life has been pretty crazy and I've felt like it's pretty out of control.

My "work" (full time day job) has been overwhelming (spent about 9 hours yesterday [Sunday] on "work" and didn't get much of a weekend) and my home jobs haven't felt much easier. I also anticipate that I will be bringing my work home with me most days this week as well. Basically, I'm just on overload. So I have a feeling that you won't see much blogging action this week either.

So, please bear with me - I think I just need to sit down a little bit and spend a few calming moments cuddling with my friend. :-)

Sunshine Sheep and Wool

This is so cute.

A farmer dyed his sheep with a temporary orange dye to stop them from being stolen.  Now, of course, it's sad that anyone would steal sheep from anyone, but I've got to say that if I drove by a field of orange sheep, I'd for sure have to stop the car and turn around! And pray I've got my camera with me!

Read about it here.

Photo and article taken from Metro.co.uk

Here Comes the Sun from Recycled Wool

With the sunshine that has blessed us the past week come some bright and cheery pillows.

Although you can't really see the correct tone of the pillows in these photos (I guess I snapped them too early in the morning), they are made from a very bright-pastel-ish-yellow blanket. I know, I know - that doesn't make much sense - how can they be bright AND pastel at the same time - but that's the best kind of description I can come up with for it.

Anyway...with that great blanket, I made a couple "flying kites" pillows (using all kinds of different bright, fun colored pieces [caution: but don't really try using them to fly your kite - it'll be a flop of an afternoon!]) and a couple of my bird pillows. I kind of missed my little birds - I haven't made any pillows with them for quite some time.

I won't be putting these on Etsy - in a few days they'll be heading to a couple stores where I have my goods. Unless, of course, anyone wants to purchase them in the meantime. If you do - feel free to drop me a note. If not - heck fire - drop me a note anyway. It's always fun to hear from friends!

Time to Paint

This is a bench that my sweet father made years ago. It has seen many seasons while sitting in my garden and has  actually housed bird families in the attached birdhouses.  (You can see the wear around the entrance holes in the photos below.)

The paint job I did (well, yes - of course it was shades of purple!) several years ago looked great at the time, but has definitely seen better days. I think I best hurry and get out the paint can and make this little bench color-happy once again.

Hmmmm...what color do you think I'll chose?

Color Popping Up

It may not be the entire garden blooming yet - but I can still see color popping up in my yard!

Today we have an overcast day - and possible storms approaching - but the warm breeze is incredibly good for the soul.

Gotta love the springtime!

Purple metal star on the front of my shed.

White metal ornament on the side of my shed. And yes, white IS a color. :-)

Adorable spring-green bird on a small metal trellis leading the way up my back door walkway.

A Snowdrop

We're rolling now folks!

What a difference a day can make when it's springtime! Just this morning I found my first snowdrop. This sweet little flower came from my grandma's garden many years ago. After she passed over and we were cleaning out her home, I also managed to grab a few of her lovely snowdrops. They stand about 3" tall and are always the first flower to bloom in my springtime yard.

So sweet, aren't they?

It's Here!

Spring!  Yup. I got the official word this morning.

I browsed the garden early this morning. Stop one - the chives.

Once the chives have broken through, spring is really here.

I must break a couple sprouts...

Squish them in my fingertips (oh dear Lord, please ignore my ugly, dry fingers...I hadn't even put lotion on yet!)...

And I breathe in the wonderful, fresh, scent of chives.

Yup. It's here.

Snapple Too

The other day I looked in my bag of collected bottle caps and found two Snapple caps that I didn't see before.

I simply couldn't leave them unattended to. I decided to stray a little from my previously created pastel pin cushions and go bold with teal.

It thought they turned out kind of jolly - that is if you can define pin cushions as jolly. Heck, why not?

Something in me just wanted to say "Tally Ho" to you and sign off from this post. But then I decided to investigate the full meaning of tally ho a little further. Come to find out - one of the most popular meanings is "the huntsman's cry to incite or urge on his hounds." Huh, I guess it wouldn't be very appropriate here then, would it?  :-)

Eagle Watch

If you haven't heard already, there are two eagles in Iowa that are bringing new life into this world.  They have been sitting on three eggs since February and as of yesterday, two of the baby eaglets have hatched!

They are quite fascinating and fun to keep watch on....if you've got the time and the patience!  Periodically, mom and dad trade placed keeping the nest and all it's inhabitants warm. The changing of the guards is the funnest part to watch - when you can get a peek at the new little buggers.

Check it out here!  It's a live stream 24/7.

Worth Clucking About

While browsing on Etsy for newly posted wool items (what else would I search for?) - I came across this amazing hen and chicks. Are they just the cutest ding-dang thing you've ever seen?

Photo taken from www.etsy.com/shop/Ainigmati. 

They were created by Hannah Stiles of Ainigmati.  Check it out - and when you're there, take a peek at her incredible bunnies as well. It is unbelievable how life-like they are!